Senate To Vote On Kavanaugh Nomination After No New Info In FBI Report

(CBS News) — The general consensus so far from Republicans who have viewed the FBI report about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s background is that is yields no new information or additional corroborating information. Democrats, however, are blasting the report as severely incomplete.

Senators on Thursday are taking turns reviewing the report following demands for a more thorough investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against President Trump’s nominee. The White House received the report overnight, and transmitted it to the Senate Judiciary Committee, before each member of the Senate has a chance to review a single copy in person on Capitol Hill. Republicans still plan to begin voting on Kavanaugh on the Senate floor Friday, with final votes on Saturday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley claimed the report reveals nothing the committee did not already know, and reveals no “contemporaneous evidence” to support the allegations.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said “the most notable part of this report is what’s not in it.”

While senators will only have one copy of the report to review in a secure room in the basement of the U.S. Capitol, the White House says that senators have “ample time” to review the seventh background inquiry into Kavanaugh’s record. Senators on both sides are expected to view with report in one-hour increments in an effort to limit the possibility of potential leaks.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a motion Wednesday for a cloture vote on Kavanaugh for Friday. Those close to the situation now anticipate a confirmation vote to come some time Saturday. Precise scheduling will come from McConnell.